NSW Road Trip Itinerary: Grand Pacific Self Drive

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Grand Pacific Self Drive

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​​​​​A great way to escape from the bustle of Sydney is with an easy and refreshing 160km drive to Kiama. Whether you have just a weekend to play with or a whole week, there’s plenty to see and do on the Grand Pacific Drive. Pick up your campervan from the Britz Sydney depot in Mascot and get started on this easy, scenic journey.

Pick up your Britz campervan in Mascot, Sydney and head towards the tiny suburb of Yarrawarrah along Princes Highway. Take a left towards the coast down Farnell Avenue and you'll reach the Royal National Park and Port Hacking. The road takes you into the Royal National Park around Port Hacking. At this point, we'd suggest treating yourself to a pit stop and going for a paddle in the peaceful Port Hacking River for $39 per kayak. Back in the car, follow the road as it turns into Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and crosses the Audley Weir – a small bridge in the heart of the National Park. Turn left again at the Bundeena Drive turn off and head back towards Port Hacking until you reach the stunning beaches at Bundeena Bay. If you fancy taking an overnight rest, park up your Britz at the seaside grounds of Bonnie Vale camp for $28 a night.

The Grand Pacific Drive will have truly begun once you have turned into Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and traveled 19.6kms through coastal scrubland to Governor Game Lookout. Here you will catch a panoramic view of the vast Pacific Ocean lapping the Eastern coastline of Australia – an excellent opportunity to take a couple of envy-inducing snaps. Carry on for another 10 minutes to Otford Lookout for an equally awesome photo opportunity, where you might spot gliders from the nearby Sydney Hang Gliding Centre. If you're in an adventurous mood, you could try hang-gliding for yourself for $220 per person.

At Stanwell Park, head to the beach for a relaxing swim before visiting the Hindu Sri Venkateswara Temple in Helensburgh, or say hello to kangaroos, tigers and more at Symbio Wildlife Park ($15-27 AUD per person).

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Leg Two Stanwell Tops to Austinmer

Distance:
20.3km Driving time:
20 mins

Take the Lawrence Hargrave Drive south across the scenic Sea Cliff Bridge – which is a highlight for anyone on the Grand Pacific road trip. Enjoy cruising along shimmering sea and towering cliffs of one of Australia's most picturesque coastlines until you reach Austinmer, just north of Wollongong. The little down has a great surf beach and you can pull up stumps here at the nearby Coledale Beach Camping Reserve for $20AUD per night.

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Leg Three Austinmer to Wollongong

Distance:
14.8km Driving time:
20 mins

Cruise along the Grand Pacific Drive for another 14.8kms until you've reached Wollongong. This seaside university town has plenty on offer, from the Science Centre and Planetarium which is great for kids, to the Buddhist Nan Tien Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. The Botanic Gardens here have a fantastic display of flora and fauna, and for the more adventurous, try rock-climbing at the Hangdog Climbing Gym. If you want to park up for the night, Wollongong City Tourist Parks is just $25-$32 a night.

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Leg Four Wollongong to Jamberoo

Distance:
32.2km Driving time:
30 mins

One of the highlights of the South Coast is Jamberoo Recreation Park. Take the Princes Motorway for 30.2kms until the airport turn off and then follow the signs to Jamberoo. Here, you can experience waterslides, a manmade beach, the bobsled from the mountain top, or simply enjoy the chair lift which takes you through the scenic valley.

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Leg Five Jamberoo to Kiama

Distance:
9km Driving time:
12 mins

A journey down the Pacific Drive isn't complete without a quick trip to the peaceful coastal town of Kiama, 9kms down the road. The Kiama Blowhole, a natural rock formation which spouts water more than 20 metres into the air and the famous lighthouse are worth checking out. Kiama beach is also a fantastic spot for fishing, surfing and also the Kiama Coastal Walk, which has views of the craggy headlands, and picturesque coastline. Chill out at the BIG4 Easts Beach Holiday Park for just $35 per night.